Housing for space heaters and sound translators



Sept. 5, 1950 D. SANDLER ,5

HOUSING FOR SPACE HEATERS AND sounn TRANSLATORS Filed May 10, 1949 IN V EN TOR. DAV/0 SANDLEE A TTDRNEY Patented Sept. 5, 1950 ,zsz tsi HOUSING'FOR-SPACE HEATERSAND SOUND i ERANSLATORS David Sandler; Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application May 10, 1949, Serial No. 92,309

--':I-his invention-relates to housings and particularly to a housing for a space heater and an associated sound'translator.

. Conduciveto a better understanding of this invention it may be well to'point out that outdoor motion picture-theaters, or so-called drivein! theaters, have become verypopular within the last tentofifteen years.

. These theaters have specially constructed car ramps upon which the theater-goer drives his own automobile and views the motion picture screen while seated in his own car.

lhe sound accompanying the motion picture is brought to the spectator by means of individual sound translators or loud-speakers, that are hung from the'door or window of each car.

In the past the lack of suitable heating facilities has limited the operation of such drive-in theaters to the warmer months of the year, thereby materially reducing the possibility of recovering an adequate return on the capital investment involved. Attempts have been made to provide separate space heaters for each can However,

this usually meant thelhandling of another unit in each car, in addition to the speaking unit, which was found to be unsatisfactory both from the standpoint of economical operation and safety. a i I The primary object of this invention therefore is to provide a housing for an associated space heater and sound translator that is both compact and portable. I V

Another object is to provide a housing for a combined space heater sound translator that can be hung from the door or window of an automobile that is parked in a drive-in theater, whereby the interior of the automobile is heated to a comfortable temperature by the space heater while the sound translator acts to deliver sound synchronized with the picture being viewed by the occupants of the automobile.

A further object is to provide a housing of the type stated whose structure is such that space heating and sound translating elements may be closely associated therein, without danger of damage to the sound translator due to the heat radiated by the space heating element.

Still another object is to provide a housing of the type stated that is simple instructure, economical tomanufacture and welll-adapted for the purposes described. 7

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims together the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure Zis a right end view of- 8 Claims; (01. 181-31) Figure 1 isa front elevation of the housing with a portion of the front wall broken away to disclose the relative position of the ceramic box and the sound translator; c

the housing partly in section, showing the relative positions of the space heater and the sound translator;

Ei'gure 3 isa rearview of the same, withia portion broken away, taken substantially along the line end in the direction of the arrows 3-4 of the Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a plan view of the housing-with a ,portion,broken away and showing the ceramic box member partly insection.

The-preferred for-1n of the housing, as shown the drawing, comprises a hollow case member and a ceramic box member mounted therein and broadly indicated by the reference characters Ill and Zfilrfispectively.

The case member 20 is made of two nested sheet metal shells, l l and I2 attached together at their vbrims by screws It as shown in the Figures 1, 2, 3 ands. The assembled housing. measures approximately eight inches by six'inches by three and one-quarter inches and therefore is very compact and. easily placed within an automobile for the convenience of the persons seated therein.

The frontwall or shell I. has a first opening it thatis approximately circular in shape. This opening is protected by downwardly directedlouvers Hi that are pressed from and integral-with the front shell H. inwardly extending bolts 3'! are welded to the front wall H proximate to the periphery of the opening it. A sound translator or loud-speaker 35 is mounted on the said front wall at the opening 13 by means of the bolts 31 as is shown in the Figuresl, 2, and 3.

The sound translator or loud-speaker 35 may be of any suitable type and in the preferred form shown consists of a'four inch cone-type speaker having a permanent magnet, which has been found to'be'the most rugged type for out-door The leads 36 of the speaker are connected through the usual cables to the sound reproducing system of the theater. A volume control switch, not shown in the drawing and'forming a part of the speaker circ'uit, is mounted in the housing and may be operated by the listener to adjust the volume of the speaker to anydesired level, as is well known in the art.

The front wall III has a second approximately rectangular opening 15 directly above the first openin 53, as is shown in the Figures 1 and 2 Zof the drawing.

generated. v I 'f fl'ilie position of the heater element 410 in the 'fffro'nt portion of the ceramic box immediately behind the louvered air vents 24 causes most of a A ceramic box 20 is fied' clay having low thermal conductivity, and is molded as a one piece unit with integral front and side walls, 2| and 22 respectfully. The box 20 is circular in cross-section and has an open rear as shown in the Figures 2, 3 and 4. In the prei ferred form shown, the ceramic box is approximately three and one-half inches in diameter, one and three-eights inchesdeep and, has side :walls one-eighth inch thick.

The front 'wall 2! has a 's eries'of transverse vents 23 that are protected by downwardly directed louvers 24; the louvers being also molded integral with the front wall. Reference charac-' ter .25 indicates an integral shoulder on either side of the ceramic box having mounting holes 26 therethrough.

mounted in the second opening [5. The ceramic box 20 is made of vitri- The ceramic box 2t is mounted in the case, on

the front wall thereof, with the air vent louvers z'flexte'nding through the second opening [5. The

"130x20 is held in place by means of threaded bolts 2-7 that pass through the mounting holes 26 of the shoulder 25. A resistance heating element 40 rated-at two hundred' and fifty "watts, one hun-' 'dr'ed'and't'en volts is mounted in the box' zfi directly behind the louvered vents 23 as shown the Figures 2 and 3. The heating element to "is circular in shape and has-mounting leads 32 that pass through a hole 28 on the side wall 22 and under a mounting block '4! located on the outside of the box 20 as shown in the Figures is used to anchor the heatingelement M in place.

A'] motor driven fan 30 is mounted on theback' *shell I2 by means of threaded bolts -34 which engage the motor frame 3 I. The fang3il is approximately three inches in diameter and is positioned within the ceramic box immediately to the rear of the heating element 40 as shown in the Fig-' ers 2 and 4. Q iThe-motor leads 33 and the heating element fleads 43 are'connected to a switch, not shown in f he'drawing; thatjcontrols the operation of the fan and heater simultaneously, thereby preventing theenergization of the heater element 40' i unless the fan 30 isalso in operation to dissipate jthefintense heat created by the element '40. "fThe'backshell i2 has louvered openings l9 formed-integral therewith, through which cold air is drawn by the operation of the fan 30. Reference character l6 indicates a rearwardly and *downwardly' extending hanger that is mounted on the back shell l2. This hanger is used to support the housing from the window ordoor of'an automobile. the top of the'case A handle I! is mounted on I H v to enable the top edge of the speaker 35 to be positioned nearer to the second opening l5,v thus permitting the jcase to be made smaller and more compact.

This compact arrangement is possible by reason of the fact that the continuous side wall 22 'of the ceramic box 20 is positioned between the heater element 40 and the speaker 35 and acts as a protective heat insulator for the speaker 35 which would otherwise be damaged by. the heat the heat created to escape from the ceramic box and serves as a liftingineans for moving the housing from place to place.

1 By referring to the Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that the lower portion of the ceramic box :20 is slanted, toward the rear saidfront' portion having air vent louvers' ex into the car-interior where it is put to useful work in moderating; the temperature of the car atmosphere;

Any rearwardly' projected heat is absorbed by the stream of cool air that is drawn through the air inlets l9 by the fan30 and blown out through the louvered vents of the ceramic box 20, after passing throughthe box 20 andoverthe heater element; Inpassing over 'theg'il'ieaterl-element ill, the air cools the heater element and is, in 1 turn, furtherwarmedby the absorbed heat. A blast of heated airis thus blown through the louvered openings Z iinto the interior of the car, which is speedily brought to a comfortable temperature.

The tunnel-like shape of the ceramic box 20 confines the heat generated to the interior of the box, frem which it is speedily removed by theair blast created by the fan 30. r

The interior of the hollow case I0 is kept cool by the fresh air drawn in through the air inlets 19, While theside wall 22 of the ceramic box 20 protects the speaker from the damage. due to direct radiation from the resistanceuheater 40.

The manner of constructing the housing just disclosed permits a sound translator and space heater to be closely positioned within; a single compact portableunit without danger of destroying the sound translator due to the proximity of the space heater.

It will now be clear that there is provided .a

device which accomplishes the -objectives heretofore set forth. While the invention'has been disclosed in itspreferred form; it is to be under-' 1 stood that the specific embodiment thereof as described andillustrated herein is not to be considered in a limited sense as there may .be other forms or modifications of the invention which should also be [construed to come within the scopeof the appended claims. 1

l. A housing of the type adaptable for use with a space heater element and anassociated sound translator, comprising in combination, a hollo'w case .member including a wall portion, thesaid wall portion having a first opening therein and having means for supporting the aforesaid sound translator thereat, the said wall portion also having a second opening proximate to the-said first opening, and a ceramic box member'including afront and a side portion and adapted to contain the aforesaid heater elementthereinthe said front portion having air vent louvers ex-' tending through the said second opening,- the said side portion having a shoulder engageable with the saidwall portion proxiinate the second i opening, the said box member side portion being between the sound translator and the heater I insulating the former from first openin and a ceramic box member includ- .ing a front and a side portion and adapted to contain the aforesaid heater element therein, the

tending through the said second opening, "the said side portion having a shoulder engageable with the said wall portion proximate the second opening, the said box member side portion being between the sound translator and the heater element and thereby insulating the former from the latter.

3. A housing of the type adaptable for use with a space heater element and an associated sound translator, comprising in combination, hollow case member includin a wall portion, the said wall portion having a first opening therein and having means for supporting the aforesaid sound translator thereat, the said wall portion also having a second opening proximate to the said first opening, and a ceramic box member including integral front and side portions, and adapted to contain the aforesaid heater element therein, the said front portion having air vent louvers extending through the said second opening, the said side portion having a shoulder engageable with the said wall portion proximate the second opening, the said box member side portion being between the sound translator and the heater element and thereby insulating the former from the contain the aforesaid heater element therein, the

said front portion having air vents parallel to the plane of the second opening, the said side portion having a shoulder engageable with the said wall portion proximate the second opening, the said box member side portion being between the sound translator and the heater element and thereby insulating the former from the latter.

5. A housing of the type adaptable for use With a space heater element and an associated sound translator, comprising in combination, a hollow case member including a wall portion, the said wall portion having a first opening therein and having screw means for supporting the aforesaid sound translator thereat, the said wall portion also having a second opening proximate to the said first opening, and a ceramic box member including integral front and side portions, and adapted to contain the aforesaid heater element therein, the said front portion having air vents parallel to the plane of the second opening, the said side portion having a shoulder engageable with the said wall portion proximate the second opening, the said box member side portion being between the sound translator and the heater ele ment and thereby insulating the former from the latter.

6. A housing of the type adaptable for use with a space heater element and an associated sound translator, comprising in combination, a hollow case member consisting of front and back nested shells attached together at their brims, the said front shell having a first opening therein and having means for supporting the aforesaid sound translator thereat, the saidfront shell also having a second opening proximate to the said first opening, the said back shell having an opening therein, and a, ceramic box member including integral front and side portions, and adapted to contain the aforesaid heater element therein, the said front portion having air vent louvers extending through the said second opening, the said side portion having a shoulder en gageable with the said front shell proximate the said second opening, the said box member side portion being between the sound translator and the heater element and thereby insulating the former from the latter.

7. A housing of the type adaptable for use with a space heater element and an associated sound translator, comprising in combination, a hollow case member consisting of front and back nested shells attached together at their brims, the said front shell having a first opening therein and having means for supporting the aforesaid sound translator thereat, the said front shell also having a second opening proximate to the said first opening, the said back shell having an opening therein and a hanger portion extending rearwardly thereof, and a ceramic box member including integral front and side portions, and adapted to contain the aforesaid heater element therein, the said front portion having air vent louvers extending through the said second opening, the said side portion having a shoulder engageable with the said front shell proximate the said second opening, the said box member side portion being between the sound translator and the heater element and thereby insulating the former from the latter.

8. A housing of the type adaptable for use with a space heater element and an associated sound translator, comprising in combination, a hollow case member consisting of front and back nested shells attached together at their brims, the said front shell having a first opening therein and having screw means for supporting the aforesaid sound translator thereat, the said front shell also having a second opening proximate to the said first opening, the said back shell having an opening therein and a hanger portion extending rearwardly thereof, and a ceramic box member including integral front and side portions and adapted to contain the aforesaid heater element therein, the said front portion having air vents parallel to the plane of the second opening, the said side portion having a shoulder engageable with the said front shell proximate the said second opening, the said box member side portion being between the sound translator and the heater element and thereby insulating the former from the latter.

DAVID SANDLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this :patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,958,007 MacDougall May 4, 1934 2,153,239 Curci Apr. 4, 1939 2,469,149 Blackwelder May 3, 1949 2,491,399 Thompson Dec. 13, 1949 

